4

$14

Stories can change lives. Big stories like "The Jungle" made food safer to eat in the early 20th century. "Silent Spring" launched the environmental movement in the 1960's.

While my ambitions are more modest, I make videos designed to change lives. A video I co-created about Post Traumatic Stress has helped scores of combat veterans and their families understand and cope with combat readjustment. My efforts to chronicle an effort to raise awareness for more research into Alzheimer's Disease, inspired a national plan to cure the disease by 2025. I have a solid track record of making videos that enlighten, inform and affect change.

Now, I want to make and share more life-changing stories through videos and I'm asking for the assistance of patrons like you for help. From mental illness to domestic abuse to inspiring personal stories--there is a wide range of socially relevant issues that do not get told because the people and organizations devoted to these issues don't have the resources to create professional videos. With your assistance, I want to change this equation. There are enough already videos about reality stars in Facebook and Twitter feeds. Let's give needy causes the same tools so that they can spread their stories via social media and other video platforms.

WHO AM I?I've been producing videos for twelve years, mostly for government agencies, non-profits and corporate clients. The most rewarding projects were personal stories that were part of larger social issues and often had profound impact on others. For example, an interview with a beautiful young woman who was addicted to heroin instantly conveyed to a viewer that heroin was no longer found at the bottom rungs of society, but was killing middle-class America. This video has been used in schools and parent forums to educate teens and parents about this horrific epidemic. Unfortunately, a paying opportunity to tell stories that have real meaning and can move people into action, are few and far between. WHAT IS MY GOAL?I want to help needy organizations and causes tell their stories in a way that gets people to act--whether it is one person who seeks help with a problem or thousands who change their perspective about an issue that often stigmatizes people. I will write, shoot, edit and upload the videos for free to these worthy organizations. I am seeking your help on tow fronts: not only do I need to build up a community of patrons who will pledge a certain amount of money per video, but I also need to enlist people to be my "eyes and ears" for new causes and issues that are not getting the attention they deserve. So I am asking for your financial support as well as encouraging patrons to suggest ideas and topics. I have some stories in the pipeline right now: How technology is helping parents and their autistic children communicate more effectively, which is opening up many new life possibilities; profiles of people and families dealing with "substance abuse disorder", Big Buddy/Little Buddy organization seeking to recruit mentors and the story of an organization helping families survive domestic violence. Past--(and future)--videos have included oral histories of "regular folks" who live heroic lives, such as a 82 year old African American woman growing up in segregation and how she transitioned from being a divorced mother of six receiving welfare to a respected community activist with a Master's Degree.

I hope this provides you with an idea of the type of stories I hope to tell. since many of these stories are socially relevant, it is reasonable to ask if I have a political agenda and if so, what is it? Well, I try to be nonpartisan, but in some cases people will think I do (a political agenda is often in the eyes of the beholder). I tend to "lean left" and will focus on giving a platform to people without a voice: poor people, minorities, those with mental and physical illness and disabilities. I also have a passion for civic engagement and plan on telling stories that encourage people to get involved-not just by voting, but to be more engaged and to hold elected officials accountable for their actions. But I will not be taking partisan positions and ultimately, if you don't agree with the subjects I deal with, you can stop supporting my efforts.

HOW OFTEN WILL I CREATE VIDEOS?My initial goal is to create one video a month. My ultimate goal is to produce about 40 to 45 videos a year, somewhere between three and four videos a month. If you are kind enough to support my efforts, please make sure you put a monthly cap on your pledge.

WHAT WILL I DO WITH THE MONEY?Compensating my time is the biggest expense for these projects. Aside from the research and pre-production, I often do on-site camera shoots, which usually requires a prior site visit so I don't get any surprises on production day. In addition, I do interview style videos with individuals that often require heavier editing than normal. In addition, there is a constant need to upgrade equipment and implement new technologies. Currently I need to upgrade my 6 year old editing machine and to secure more back-up capabilities for my growing video library.

Your support allows me to give a voice to the voiceless and to tell important stories. Please click on the donate button on the right, and pledge any amount per video. I thank you for you consideration. (Note: your donation is not tax deductible, as you are supporting my efforts to help non-profits.)

Tiers

Pledge $2 or more per Video That Will Make a Difference

0 patrons

You will have exclusive access to my Patron-only feed where you can view the projects you funded and get the back-story about the people and issues covered.

Pledge $10 or more per Video That Will Make a Difference

1 of 100 patrons

Along with being part of my Patron-only feed, your name will be credited at the end of each video, acknowledging you as a underwriter of the video. You will have direct access to me to share ideas and specific subject matter for important and worthy stories that need to be told. (If acknowledgements compromise the creative integrity of the video, I reserve the right to instead post credits on an alternative website or inform the non-profit of your support in a letter. I anticipate this scenario will be very rare, if at all.)

Pledge $50 or more per Video That Will Make a Difference

0 of 10 patrons

For the generous patrons who support this project at this level, you will receive the good karma of supporting worthy causes, the ability to nominate people and organizations for videos and on-screen credits. After supporting 12 videos at this level, I will create a short (1-2 minutes) personal video for you. Simply email/transfer video and/or pictures, with a recorded message (from your smart phone). I'll edit, add titles and music to it, and send back as a professional video. This is great for an Anniversary, Birthday or any special occasion! (We'll talk/email before we do the video). This award fulfillment can only be done in English. All files will be transferred electronically.

Goals

I will produce a video, for either a worthy non-profit or an individual with an inspiring story--with the goal to motivate people to act (donate, volunteer, gain knowledge).

1 of 1

Stories can change lives. Big stories like "The Jungle" made food safer to eat in the early 20th century. "Silent Spring" launched the environmental movement in the 1960's.

While my ambitions are more modest, I make videos designed to change lives. A video I co-created about Post Traumatic Stress has helped scores of combat veterans and their families understand and cope with combat readjustment. My efforts to chronicle an effort to raise awareness for more research into Alzheimer's Disease, inspired a national plan to cure the disease by 2025. I have a solid track record of making videos that enlighten, inform and affect change.

Now, I want to make and share more life-changing stories through videos and I'm asking for the assistance of patrons like you for help. From mental illness to domestic abuse to inspiring personal stories--there is a wide range of socially relevant issues that do not get told because the people and organizations devoted to these issues don't have the resources to create professional videos. With your assistance, I want to change this equation. There are enough already videos about reality stars in Facebook and Twitter feeds. Let's give needy causes the same tools so that they can spread their stories via social media and other video platforms.

WHO AM I?I've been producing videos for twelve years, mostly for government agencies, non-profits and corporate clients. The most rewarding projects were personal stories that were part of larger social issues and often had profound impact on others. For example, an interview with a beautiful young woman who was addicted to heroin instantly conveyed to a viewer that heroin was no longer found at the bottom rungs of society, but was killing middle-class America. This video has been used in schools and parent forums to educate teens and parents about this horrific epidemic. Unfortunately, a paying opportunity to tell stories that have real meaning and can move people into action, are few and far between. WHAT IS MY GOAL?I want to help needy organizations and causes tell their stories in a way that gets people to act--whether it is one person who seeks help with a problem or thousands who change their perspective about an issue that often stigmatizes people. I will write, shoot, edit and upload the videos for free to these worthy organizations. I am seeking your help on tow fronts: not only do I need to build up a community of patrons who will pledge a certain amount of money per video, but I also need to enlist people to be my "eyes and ears" for new causes and issues that are not getting the attention they deserve. So I am asking for your financial support as well as encouraging patrons to suggest ideas and topics. I have some stories in the pipeline right now: How technology is helping parents and their autistic children communicate more effectively, which is opening up many new life possibilities; profiles of people and families dealing with "substance abuse disorder", Big Buddy/Little Buddy organization seeking to recruit mentors and the story of an organization helping families survive domestic violence. Past--(and future)--videos have included oral histories of "regular folks" who live heroic lives, such as a 82 year old African American woman growing up in segregation and how she transitioned from being a divorced mother of six receiving welfare to a respected community activist with a Master's Degree.

I hope this provides you with an idea of the type of stories I hope to tell. since many of these stories are socially relevant, it is reasonable to ask if I have a political agenda and if so, what is it? Well, I try to be nonpartisan, but in some cases people will think I do (a political agenda is often in the eyes of the beholder). I tend to "lean left" and will focus on giving a platform to people without a voice: poor people, minorities, those with mental and physical illness and disabilities. I also have a passion for civic engagement and plan on telling stories that encourage people to get involved-not just by voting, but to be more engaged and to hold elected officials accountable for their actions. But I will not be taking partisan positions and ultimately, if you don't agree with the subjects I deal with, you can stop supporting my efforts.

HOW OFTEN WILL I CREATE VIDEOS?My initial goal is to create one video a month. My ultimate goal is to produce about 40 to 45 videos a year, somewhere between three and four videos a month. If you are kind enough to support my efforts, please make sure you put a monthly cap on your pledge.

WHAT WILL I DO WITH THE MONEY?Compensating my time is the biggest expense for these projects. Aside from the research and pre-production, I often do on-site camera shoots, which usually requires a prior site visit so I don't get any surprises on production day. In addition, I do interview style videos with individuals that often require heavier editing than normal. In addition, there is a constant need to upgrade equipment and implement new technologies. Currently I need to upgrade my 6 year old editing machine and to secure more back-up capabilities for my growing video library.

Your support allows me to give a voice to the voiceless and to tell important stories. Please click on the donate button on the right, and pledge any amount per video. I thank you for you consideration. (Note: your donation is not tax deductible, as you are supporting my efforts to help non-profits.)

Recent posts by Kevin Bowe

Tiers

Pledge $2 or more per Video That Will Make a Difference

0 patrons

You will have exclusive access to my Patron-only feed where you can view the projects you funded and get the back-story about the people and issues covered.

Pledge $10 or more per Video That Will Make a Difference

1 of 100 patrons

Along with being part of my Patron-only feed, your name will be credited at the end of each video, acknowledging you as a underwriter of the video. You will have direct access to me to share ideas and specific subject matter for important and worthy stories that need to be told. (If acknowledgements compromise the creative integrity of the video, I reserve the right to instead post credits on an alternative website or inform the non-profit of your support in a letter. I anticipate this scenario will be very rare, if at all.)

Pledge $50 or more per Video That Will Make a Difference

0 of 10 patrons

For the generous patrons who support this project at this level, you will receive the good karma of supporting worthy causes, the ability to nominate people and organizations for videos and on-screen credits. After supporting 12 videos at this level, I will create a short (1-2 minutes) personal video for you. Simply email/transfer video and/or pictures, with a recorded message (from your smart phone). I'll edit, add titles and music to it, and send back as a professional video. This is great for an Anniversary, Birthday or any special occasion! (We'll talk/email before we do the video). This award fulfillment can only be done in English. All files will be transferred electronically.